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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN D. TUCKER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-DELIVERING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,067, dated April H, 1579; application tiled September 16, 1872.

To all whom if may concern:

Beit known that l, STEPHEN D. TUCKER of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-,Deliverin Apparatusfor, Printing-llachines; and l do hereby declare that the following` specitcation, taken in (-.onnection with the aceomlmnjpng drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, which, for convenience of illustratin g their position, shows the arrangement ofthe gear-wheels as they appear when the apparatus is adjusted as in Fig. 12. Fig. 2 is a frontend elevation of the apparatus when adjusted to fold each successive sheet conducted to it, while Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 a longitndiin'll sectional. elevation, of the apparatus so adjusted. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the mechanisms at one end ot' the cylinder 30, adjusted as in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. and as seen from the rear. Fig. G is a diagram showing the operation of the main gri'per -ca-m. Fig. 7 shows the fixed annular wheel or other gearing for .operating the rol tating folding-blade, and a diagram of the path of its folding-edge. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of said gearing'and blade, and the heads of the cylinder which carries the same. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the apparatus, showing the mechanisms adjusted to collect, accumulate, or gather many sheets and deliver them in a single mass, Fig. 10 being a rca-r elevation o' the cylinder and Fig. 1l shows, in plan and end views, the structure of the secondary sheet-manipulating mechanism, the same being in the positions shown in Fig..1. Fi g. 12 is a rear elevation of the cylinder 30, showing the mechanisms adjusted to gather, collect, or accumulate two sheets, one upon another, and to paste together and fold the same as one product, Fig. 13 being a longitudinal section, and Fig. 14 a sectional -diagram,illustrating this operation, while Fig. 1'5 shows, in side elevation and section, the construction of the folding-blade-projecting cam. Fig.v 16 is a rear elevation of the cylinder 30, showing a modification of the folding-bladeprojecting cam and the mechanism for moving it, Fig. 17 showing, in' elevation and scction, the construction of said cam; Figs. 18 and 19 being diagrams illustrating the operation of the apparatus so modified. Fig. 20 is a plan view, illustrating` a further modification of the mechanism for operating the foldingblade-projecting cam, by which two or more sheets may be collected, pasted, and folded as a single product 5 Fig.. 21 and 22 being da grains illustrating the opera-tion of the apparatus so modified. Figs. :33 and 24 are diagrams illustrating a modification ot the mechanisms for actuating the folding-blade, whereby the operation of collecting two sheets, pasting, and folding them as a single product may be accomplished by properly proportion' ing the gearing for rot-ating said blade. Fig. 25 is a diagrain showin g the path of travel of the folding-edge of the blade in said operation. Fig. 26, Sheet 1, shows the griper shaft in detail, with rock-arms on each end, to

be operated by the two griper-cams; and

Fig. 27 represents afurther modicatiou ot' the invention.

The present invention consists in a foldingblade supported upon a shaft in a revolving carrier, and rotated by means ot` a pinion on said shaft, a stationary annular wheel, and two intermediate wheels, whereby said blade is caused to rotate in the proper direction, and will, when projected from and withdrawn to ward the center of 'said carrier, co-operate with stationary rollers, and effect a folding operation. It also includes a revolving carrier, preferably in form a cylinder, adapted to receive sheets upon its surface, and provided with means for collecting many sheets thereon, and also supporting a single folding-blade, which is provided with mechanisms whereby it is caused to rotate within the periphery ot said carrier, except when it is projected to eooperate with a pair of stationary folding-rollers, and with mechanisms whereby it is pro jected outward from and withdrawn toward the center ot' said carrier at each revolution, or at each second or other repeated revolution of the carrier, at which time its edge enters between and withdraws from said rollers, and performs the folding operation.

It further consists in a cam for projecting and withdrawing said tbldingdiladc at the proper times.

The invention further includes the combination, with the blade-projecting cam, of an auxiliary cam for actuating the gripers of the carrier in proper time to release the sheet supported upon the carrier, so that the same may be correctly folded, whether the apparatus be adjusted to fold each successive sheet or to collect two or more sheets and fold them as one.

It also comprises other constructions and combinations of mechanisms, allof which will be more particularly hereinafter pointed out and distinctly claimed.

The various mechanisms constitute a sheet- `delivering apparatus, which is designed to he attached to and be driven from a web-perfect ing printing-machine, though it will manipulate sheets fed to it by any means. Its primary sheetmanipulating mechanism consists of a revolving carrier. which, for the reason that, as herein arranged, it is designed to receive and support sheets upon its surface, is shown to be constructed in the form of a cylinder, 30. This cylinder is provided with mechanisms whereby successive sheets received upou'its surface may be folded singly as they are delivered therefrom, or many sheets may be laid one on another upon its surface, and, thus collected, be delivered therefrom as a single pack or body; or two or more sheets may be collected upon its surface and folded in a single pack as they are delivered, the same being pasted so as to adhere together, if desired.

In all of these operations the sheets are received in succession from tapes 37 38, to which they are delivered by the cutting-cylimlers of the webprinting;l machine, as in Iatent No. 191,494. and whit-'n tapes lead the sheets onto said cylinder 30. The upper tapes, 37, passing in contact with the upper surface of the cylinder30, anreturned over the upper of a pair of folding-rollers, 3.3 36. which, geared together by toothed wheels 63 64, are driven from a toothed wheel, 73, Fig. 3, fast to one end of the cylinder 30, and tlnls revolve in unison with said cylinder and drive the tapes 37 with a like speed. The lower tapes, 38, run parallel with the tapes 37, pass over a roller, 39, pass in contact with a delivery-cylinder, 40, and return under pulleys 4i toward the aforesaid cutting-cylinders.

The cylinder 40 is driven by a toothed wheel, 71, which gears with the wheel T3, and is thus moved in unison with the cylinder 40, thereby imparting the same surfacespeed to the tapes 33 which the tapes 37 have, and hence callsmg the two mrs of tapes to feed the sheets uniformly.

The space between the rollers 39 and the s-.rface of the cylinder 30 is spanned by guards 16, which insure the properdirection and even passage of the sheets. This cylinder 30 is made larger than the cutting-cylinders, and is it runs turn t'or turn with them it has agreater surfaeespeetl, in order that the sheets shall ne separated a distance apart, as is fully descril led in the aforesaid patent. This cylinder is recessed at one point to accommodate the gripers 14, whose shaft is hungin the heads of the cylinder and provided with a spring-seated arm, 34, and a rock-arm, 15, at one end, and with a roekarrn, 1, at the opposite end. (See Figs. 1 and 26.) lts rock-arm 15 engages and is operated by a cam, 70, fixed to the side fratrie in such a position that said gripers will be opened to receive and closed to seize the leading edge of an incoming sheet, and thus hold the same onto the cylinder, and also open at the proper time and extent to release sheets to he discharged at the switches 18. Its rockarm 1 engages and is operated bythe auxiliary cam 3, supported on the face of the bladeshaft-projectin g cam 59, whereby the said gripers are opened at the proper time to'release a sheet or sheets when the same are to be folded. Both of these operations will be more fully hereinafter described.

The cylinder 30 supports also a folding mechanism, the folding-blade whereof is provided with means whereby it is rotated continuously upon itsown axis, and, though tumed outward many times during each revolution of its earrying-cylimler 30, it so turns within the periphery of said cylinder, except at the proper time when it is to co-operate with the stationary folding rollers, and then is pro truded beyond the periphery of the cylinder and entered between said rollers. To this end this folding-blade projects from a shaft, 32, that is `iournaled in arms 11 12 fast upon a rock-shaft, 33, the latter being journaled in the heads 74 75 of the cylinder, Fig. 8. The blade-shaft 32 has a. pinion, 10, fast upon its end, which gears with an intermediate toothed wheel, 9. turning freely upon the rock-shaft This intermediate 9 is made wide enough to gear with an intermediate toothed wheel, 8, which, revolving on a stud projecting beyond the head 74 of the cylinder, gears .with a tixed annular wheel, 68, secured to the side frame. By the arrangement the pinion 10 on the folding-blaue shaft is kept outside of the annular wheel 68, and is free to be moved in and out without coming in contact with it. The rock' shaft 33 has a. rock-arm, 13, the stud or roller on the end of which runs in the roove of a folding-blade-projecting cam,59, 1 gs. 2, 4. and 5. This cam 59 is hung on the shaft 3l of the cylinder 30, and provided with means for causing it to revolve independently of said cylinder, and with means forcausing it to revolve in unison with said cylinder, which means and modes of operation will be hereinafter explained. 1t is also provided with means for securing it in a stationary position with respect to said cylinder, which consists of a screw-pin, 76, Fig. 5, passingithough the side frame and entering a socket iu said cam-wheel. This stationary adjustment of said cam-wheel is its position when the mechanisms are arranged to fold each sheet received upon the cylinder 30, which is the operation of the up paratus now to be described.

eimocr 3 As the cylinder 30 revolves it carries with it the folding-blade 5, the shat'ts 32 33, the pinion 10, and the intermediates 9 8, and, as the latter is made to rotate by ruiming in the annular wheel 68, it causes thc folding-blade 5 to receive alike motion through the intermediate 9 and pinion 10. ',lhus the foldingblade 5 will be caused to rotate upon its axis as many times' during each revolution of the cylinder 30 as the teeth ot the pinion 10 are proportioned to those ofthe annular wheel 68. In the present instance this proportion is as one is to four, and hence said blade will'make four rotations during each revolution of the cylinder 3U. As the cylinder 30 revolves to produce these rotations of the blade the rockarm 13, traversing the lower part of the groove of the cam 59, now stationary until its greatest depression is reached, causes the blade-shaft 32 to be projected outward from the center of the cylinder 30, and as the pinion 10 partakes of this same movement and is kept in constant gear with the intermediate 9 by reason ot' its carryingarms 11 12 being` fixed on the shaft ot' said iii1tcrn1edi'ate, it follows that the said blade will be given the compound movements of rotation and outward projection, and will thus be protruded through an opening in the cylinder, and it is so timed as to be turned or entered between the folding-rollers 35 36. As the motions proceed the foldingblade, continuously rotating, will be withdrawn from' said folding-rollers byfreasonot i's'rotationu and the inward movement given to its shaft 32 by the action ot' the cam 59 on the rockarm 13 while the latter is traversing the low part ot' the groove in cam 59 from. the point of its greatest depression to thatof its least depression or where it joins the concentric portion. I

`When the arm 13 has entered and is traversing` the concentric part ot' the groove in the cain 59 the blade and its'shaft 32 and pinion 10 will have reacberbthe extent ot their inward movement; and the said devices are retained at such a point within the cylinder that, though the tbldingblade continues to rotate, and its edge is turned outward three' more times during` one revolution of the cylinder and-toward the periphery thereof, said blade will not be projected beyond said periphery. rlhc edge ot' the folding-blade is thus caused to describe the path indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and hence may be atl-- vantageously employed with a carrier adapted to support upon its surface the sheets which are to be manipulated.

A sheet emergin g from the conductingtapes 37 3S will bc guided onto the cylinder 30, and seized and held thereon by the gripers 14, which gripers are opened at lthe proper point to receive the sheet bythe cam 70, and closed by the spring-seated arm 34, to seize the same when the rock-arm passes oli' said cam. Thus held, the sheet will be carried around with the cylinder, its. middle port-ion overlying the point occupied by the blding-biade 5. As this fold ing-blade, constantly rotated by the action of the fixed annular Wheel 68, the intermediates 9 an d 8, and pinion 10, approaehesgthe folding rollers 36 35, the rock-arm- 13 will enter and traverse the first half of the lowpart of the groove of the cam 59, thereby causing the shaft 32 and the folding-blade it carries to be gradually rocked outward. As the rotation of the blade continues, it brings the edge of the blade into contact with the sheet, thus causing said blade to -press the sheet outward, and to dou! ble it into the nip of the folding-rollers 36 35, the edge of the said blade, by its rotative and outward movements, being carried over the curved surface of the roller 36, and between it and the roller 35, as in Fig. 4.

The gripers 14 are simultaneously opened to release the sheet by contact of their rockarm 1 with the auxiliary cam 3, which stands in the position shown in Figs. l and 4. The sheet thus entered between the rollers 36 35 will at once be seized by and fed outward between them in a folded condition, while the Foldingblade 5, still continuing its rotation, and being moved inwardly by the action ot the last halt' of the low part ot' the groove of the cam 59 upon its arm 13, will be withdrawn from between said folding-rollers, during which movement its edge will be carried over the curved surface of the roller 35. As the move mentot the leading end of the sheet is-reversed and it is drawn backward in passing through the rollers 3635,t`is prevented from drooping by means of guards 50, which are fixed on rods so as to coincide with the curved surface ot the cylinder 30. As the cylinder continues to revolve, the gripers 14 will seize' a second sheet emerging from the tapes 37 38, which sheet will be folded by the blade 5 in like manner as was the rst sheet; but before said blade reaches its position for co-operation with the foldingrollers 36 35 it will have made three complete rotations idly or inoperatively within the periphery of the cylinder, for the reason that its shaft is held in its innermost position while 'its actuating rock-arm 13 is traversing the concentric part ot' the groove' of the cani 59, as before explained.

The cylinder 30 is also furnished with mechanisms whereby many sheets may be collected upon its'surface and delivered therefrom in a single body, as will now be described. (See Figs. 9, 10.)

An ordinary collecting or accumulating cylinder is provided with an entrance-channel for the sheets, a delivering-channel for the same, means for direct-mgsuccessive sheets upon its surface and there retaining them, so that they will collect one upon another, and with means for stripping the same therefrom in a single mass.

In the present instance, the entrance-channel is constituted by the tapes 37 and the di recting-gnards 16, and the deliveringchannel by the delivering-cylinder il() and a set of stripping-switches, 18.

The gripers 14, aided by the tapes 12, the

tails of the stationary guards 16, which are concentric with the cylinder, and the faces of the switches 18, retain the sheets upon the cyliuder, and said switches operate to strip the same therefrom, all of which will presently be made more clear.

In order that the folding-blade shall be rendered inoperative at the folding-rollers 36 35, through which it would otherwise fold the sheets, as before described, and to adjust the apparatus so as to perform the collecting operation bnly, its projecting cam 59 is released from the hold ot' the screw-pin 76, which is removed, as shown in Fig. 10. Said cam is then partially rotated on its shaft, so that the -rock-arm 13 of the foldingbladc shaft shall be held in that part of its groove which is concentric with the cylinder 30, whereby the folding-blade 5, its shaft 32, and pinion 10 will be held within the periphery of the cylinder, in which position said cam 5i) is fixed tothe shaft 31 by the set screw 2, Figs. 5 and l0, and will revolve continuously with the cylinder 30. With the cam 59 thus held the rock-arm 13 will receive no motion therefrom, and, though the folding-blade will continue to rotate, its movements will he wholly rotative, and it will not be projected beyond the periphery of the cylinder. As the auxiliary cam 3 will revolve with the cam 59 and cylinder .'50, it will, of course, have no ctl'ect upon the gripers 14, so that the gripers will be operated solely by the main griper cam 70. The switches 18 are mounted upon a shaft, 4, (see Figs. 1, 2, 9,) which is rocked at proper intervals by means ofa rock-arm and a rod, 7, the stud projecting from the side of which latter rims in the groove of a cam-wheel, 66. lhc front laces l' the switches arc curved so as to c0-in ciile with the periphery' of thc cylinder 30 when in the position shown in FigA, and their rear curved faces in like manner coincide with the periphery of the delivering-cylinder 40 when inthe position of Fig. 9, the said cylinders being grooved to permit this movement of them.

The cam-wheel 66 is mounted upon one end of a shaft, 80, which, at its opposite end, carries a toothed wheel, 54, that is geared to a toothed wheel, 57, (the latter being removed as in Fig. 4, when each sheet is to he folder as in the operation hereinbefore dcscribed,) which is on a short shaft projecting through thc side frame, that carries ou its other end an intermediate toothed wheel, 55, which gears with a pinion, 56, fast on the shaft 3l of the cylinder 30. (See Fig. 10.) As the pinion 5b' has one tooth to every two teeth of the wheel 55, and the whccl 57 on the saine shut't has one tooth to evcry two teeth of the wheel 54, it follows that the latter will make one revolution to every four ofthe cylinder 30, and hence will rock the switches 18 into the position shown in Fig. 9 at every such fourth revolution, whilc the shape ot' thc cuni lili will canse thciii t0 stand as in Fig'. 4 during the intervening revolutions of said cylinder.

A ily-frame, 27, whose shaft/87 is hung in bearings fixed on the basepla, is vibratcd at proper intervals by the following means: It is held up so that its ends enter the grooves in the delivering-cylinder by a cam, 65, on the shaft 80, which bears against a stud, 84 on a rod, 85, that connectswith one end of a T- head, 86, on its shaft 87, and when the highest part of this cam passes said stud a springseated rod, 88, forces the ily-frame downw A set of tapes, 42, driven by the receiiii cylinder 40, are stretched over the same, p down before the ily-frame'wheu lits n 1- position, and return 4around pulleys 26 ,121mning for a short distance in contact with the cylinder 30.

The operation of the mechanisms thus adjusted is as follows: Each sheet delivered upon the cylinder by the ta 37 38 is seized by the gripers 14, which c amp it upon said cylinder, and there cause it to be laid thereon and to be carri around with said cylinder. Just before the gripers reach the cylinder 40 they are o ned by the operation of the cam 70, thus re easing their hold upon the sheet, which is then nipped and held up the cylinder by thetapes 42. From the poi where the tapes 42 leave the cylinder and run over the deliveringcylinder 40 the curved faces of the switches 18, standing with their front surfaces concentric with the said cylinder, as in Fig. 4, aided by the curved tails of the guards 16, guide the sheet onward, while the tapes 42 act as a means for drivihgtr- The head of this sheet is thus brought tothe entrance-point, where asecond sheet is received upon it, the gripers 14, which have remained open as their rock-arm 15 traversed,

the cam 70, closing down upon the heads of the two sheets and carrying them together around with the cylinder precisely as the first sheet was carried. This operation is repeated a third and fourth time, whereupon four sheets will have been gathered, collected, or accumulated, one upon another, on the surface ot said cylinder; but when the tails of the first three sheets have passed the point occupied by the switches 18, the pinion 56 will have, through the intermediates and 57, so far rotated the toothed wheel 54 that lthe low part of the groove in the cam -wheel 66 will, through the rod 7, have rocked the toes of said switches into the grooves 0f the cyliudan. 30, as in Fig. 9. In this position they will intercept thc heads of the four collected sheets, strip oli' said sheets ointhe cylinder 30, and guide them over the delivering-cylinder 40, from whence they are conducted by the tapes 38, 42, and pulleys 41 down before the ily-frame 27, and when tlieirtails have about cleared the pulleys 41 the rotation of the shaft 80 will have carried the high part of the cam clear of the roller-stud 84 on the rod S5, thereby permitting the spring-seated rod 88 to quickly vibrate the liy 27, which will deliver said four sheets upon a suitable piling-table. As the tails of these four collected sheets clear the switches 18, said switches will be quickly rocked into the position shown in Fig. 4, to guide the fifth sheet, or the tirst of a new pack of four sheets, around with the cylinder to the entrance-point, where it will receive a second sheet upon it, and the described collecting operation will be repeated.

lf it is desired to collect more than four sheets, the wheel 54 will be properly proportioned to the pinion 57.

In order to adjust the mechanisms to collect two sheets and fold, or paste and fold, the two together, (see Figs. 12 to 15,) the cam 59 is disconnected from the shaft 31 by removing` the set-screw 2. The toothed wheel 57 is then reversed on its shaft, so that it will be disconnected from the wheel 54, but will align with'and gear into the toothed wheel 58, (see Fig. 12,) which wheel is iixed to the back of the cam 59 by means oi fasyeniug screws 49, as is seen in Fig. and thus properly connected and timed, said cam 59 will be revolved with said wheel 58, and operate as will presently be made clear. The rotation of the cylinder will then, through its pinion 56 and the intermediate wheels and 57, cause the wheel 58 and the cam wheel 59, now secured to the latter, to revolve in the same direction that it moves; but as the wheel 55 is twice the size ci' the pinion 56, as already described, and as the wheels 57 and 58 are of equal size, it follows that the cam 59 will make but one turn to cach two of said cylinder 30.

A removable pasting apparatus (such as is described in a pending application tiled by me J une-11, 1878, and shown in some of the preceding gurcs to more clearly illustrate its relation to the other mechanisms) is now adj usted in place. ltconsists of a pasting-disk, 22, running ina paste-vat, 21, and mounted upon a shaft, which is supplied with a pulley, 24, by which it is constantly rotated, through a belt, 48, from a pulley, 23, ou the shaft of.

the delivering-cyliiuler 40. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

The apparatus thus adjusted will operate as follows The successive sheets delivered to the surface of cylinder 30 are each, in turn, seized at the point of their entrance thereon by the gripers 14 and carried around with the cylinder. The lirst sheet of a pair thus seized and held upon the cylindermakes a complete revol ution with it; but it is not folded,becauseduring this first revolution of the cylinder 30 the de pressed or workin g part ot" the cam 59 has been iu the meantime revolved by the gear-wheels 56 55 54 58 to a point directly opposite its normal or workingy position. (See Fig. 13.) rlhe auxiliary linger-cam 3 on the cam 59 has also been rotated to a point oppositeits normal position, so thztt this first sheet is not released' until it nearl) reaches the deliv ery "v1- inder 40, when the gripers are opener. 'by the cam to receive the next incoming or second sheet. Consequently the first sheet is carried well into the nip ofthe tapes 42, which, to-

gether with the switches 18 and guides 16, conduct it around until it is caught by the tapes 37, where the second sheet is deposited upon it. The gripers 14 now close on the two sheets, and they are carried around until their heads nearly reach the pasting-disk, by which time the cam 59 will have completed its revolution, so that the auxiliary cam 3 will be in position to open the gripers at the point just indicated. (See Fig. 14.) The depressed or working part of the folding-cam has also now arrived at its working position, so that the folding-blade is now thrown outward, and the two overlying sheets just released by the gri pers are doubled iutothefoldngrollers without their heads having reached the pasting-disk 22 or the tapes 42.

The first sheet, in passing the pasting-disk, has a longitudinal line of paste laid upon its central part, by which it will be caused to adhere to the second sheet when the two are pressed together and passed through the folding-rollers.

The folding-blade-projectin g cam may be alternately moved into a position Where it will not cause the projection of said blade into cooperating position With respect to the foldingrollers 36 35 as it passes the point occupied by them when the cylinder 30 is carrying the first sheet of a pair, and into a position to project said blade between the folding-rollers when the cylindercarries two associated sheets which are to be doubled into the nip of said rollers by other means than is hereinbefore described. Thus said cam may be reciprocated toward and frompthe folding-rollers, as in Figs. 16 to 19, or be reciprocated toward and from the cylinder-head laterally into and out of engagement with the rock-arm attached to the folding-blade shaft, as in Figs. 20 to 22, inclusive.

In Figs. 16 to 19 a reciprocating cam, 90, is shown as provided with suitable guide-lcdgesas the beveled sides-(see Figs. 16, 17,) adapted to run in corresponding guides formed by the beveled side pieces 92 92, attached to the side frame. It is provided with a stud, 93, which runs in the groove of a cam-Wheel, 94, whereby it is moved to and from the folding-rollers 36 35, a recess, 95, cut through its center .admitting this movement of it. It is also provided with an elliptical groove, 91, the ends of which are true semicircles, in which runs the rockarm 13 of the folding-blade shaft.

The cam-wheel 94 is caused to make one revolution to each. two of `the cylinder 30 by the following means; The said cam-wheel is fast upon one end of a short shaft, which carries at the opposite end a toothed wheel, 101, which meshes with a pinion, 102, fast upon the end of the shaft 3l of the cylinder 30, and as the number of teeth of the pinion 102 are to those ci' the wheel 101 as one is to two, it follows that said wheel 101, and consequently the camwheel 94, driving the reciprocating cam 90,

will make one revolution while the cylinder is making two revolutions. The said cam-wheel 94 thus carries 4the reciprocating cam 90 into the position shown in Fig. 18 during that revolution made by the cylinder 30 in receiving the first sheet of a pair, when the folding operation is to be suspended, and into the position shown in Fig. 19 during that revolution of the cylinder when a second sheet is received and collected upon thetirst, when the folding operation is to be effected.

The operation of the apparatus as thus modified will now be described, it being understood that the mechanisms shown in these figures and marked by similar characters, as in the preceding illustration, are constructed and operate as before described.

As this modification of the apparatus is not designed to deliver sheets flat, the tiy 27, the tapes leading thereto, and the switches 18 will, of course, be dispensed with, though tapes 97, running over pulleys 25 96 and bearing against the face of the cylinder 30 from a pointjustin advance of the pasting-disk 22 toa point near the tails of the guards 16, and operating as do the tapes 42 with the cylinder 30, will be required. The arm 13 on the end of the shaft 33, for moving the folding-blade in and out of the cylinder, points in the opposite direction to those previously illustrated herein, which causes the groove in the folding-cam in which this arm runs to assume a different shape from the former one.

As the first sheet of a pair is received and carried around upon the cylinder 30 the reciprocating cam 90 will stand as in Fig. 18, so that the groove in its upper end will be concentric with the periphery ofthe eylindennnd consequently the end of the rock-arm 13, which actuates the folding-blade shaft, will traverse said groove without boing moved thereby, thus retaining the shaft 32 of said blade in its innermost position; but when the cylinder 30 has so fai revolved that the leading end of the iirst sheet is approaching the point of reception of the second sheet, the cam-wheel 94 will have so far revolved as to have caused the stud 93 to pass out of the low part of its groove 94 and into the high part thereof, thus reciprocating the cam 90 upward or into its forward position, as in Fig. 19, when the groove 91 of the foldiugcam 90, in its lower end, will be concentric with the periphery of the cylinder 30, and the groove ini s upper -end will stand in an eccentric posit n with relation to said periphery, where it mains during about tive-eighths (Q) of the re olution of the wheel 94, or while the cylinder30 makes about one and one-quarter (l) revolution. The end of the rock-arm 13 following this oove 91 remains in an unchanged position with respect to its movement for projecting the blade-shaft until the cylinder has so far revolved as to carry the second sheet upon the firsVand bring the middle portion of the collected pair of sheets near to the part occupied by the folding-rollers 36 35. Now, as the folding-blade approaches this point the end of the rock-arm 13, following the upper end of the cam-groove9l, (then in its eccentric position,) is forced outward, thus projecting the blade-shaft 32, and causing the foldingblade to double the sheets into the nip of the folding -rollers and forced inward, thus withdrawing said blade shaft and foldingblade, causing a folding operation preciselylike that first hercinbefore described. The cam 90 does not again change its position until the foldingblade again approaches the folding-rollers, when it is quickly moved into the position shown in Fig. 18, and the operation is repeatcd.

Another construction of reciprocating cari for folding two sheets associated together to form one product is shown in Figs. 20 to 22, inclusive. It is in form like those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1l, and is marked 100 for con venience of reference. It has a cam-groove, 98, the low part of which is about one-fourth its whole extent, and carries upon its face theI auxiliary griper-cam 3. This cam 100is fixed to the inner ends of rods 103 104, which slide in bearin gs through the side frame, the connecting cross-bar of which has an arm which runs in the groove 100 of a cam, 107, mounted upon a stud secured to the side frame. This cam 107 is fast to a toothed wheel, 108, which is driven from a pinion, 109, fast on the end of the shaft 3l ofthe cylinder 30, and as the pinion 109 is but one-half the size of the wheel 108 the cam 107 is caused to' make but one revolution to each two of the cylinder 30. The rods 103 104 are long enough and the throw of the cam 107 is such that the cam 100 will be reciprocated to and from the end of the cylinder 30, so as to engage with and diseugage from the end of thc rock-arm 13, which actuates the rock-shaft 33, that supp ,s the folding-blade shaft, which rock-arm, when disengagcd from the cam 100, is held in the position shown in Fig. 2l by a spring-seated rod, 99, that is attached to an arm projecting from said shaft 33 inside of the cylinder for this purpose. Thus held, the end of the rock-arm is in position to enter the high part of the groove in the cam 100 at any point thereof. This cam 100, when in its innermost position, acts to move the rock-arm 13 inward to throw the folding-blade shaft outward, and thus project the said blade between the folding-rollprs 36 35, and reverse the movements to withdraw the said blade. Said folding-cam is reciprocated to and from the ends of the folding-rollers and cylinder at certain periods of the revolution ot' said cylinder, as will be best understood from a description of the operation of this modified apparatus. In such description the mechanisms which (marked the saine) are like those hereiubefore described are to be understood as having the construction and mode of operation there set forth.

As the first sheet is received and carried around upon the cylinder 30, the cam 107 will have so rotated as to withdraw the cam 100 from engagement with the rock-arm 13, which latter, together with the folding-blade shaft, will, under the influence of the spxingseuted rod 99, stand in the position shown in Fig. 2l, whereby the foldingblade 5, though constantly rotating, being caused to so move within the peripheral line of the cylinder, will thus not co-operate with the folding-rollers 36 35, to fold the said first sheet. Just after the cylinder has so far revolved as to have reiceived a second sheet upon the first sheet on its surface the cam 107 will have so far revolved as to move the cam 100 inward to receive the end of the rock-arm 13 in the high or concentric point of its groove, following which groove, as the cylinder continues to revolve, it will force said arm inward an d move the bladeshaft outward, thus projecting the blade so that it will be moved into co-operatien with `the rollers 30 35 and double the two sheets into the nip of the same, the outward moveward movements of the blade-shaft and blade following in like manner, as before described. As the 'cylinder continues to rotate to receive the iirst sheet of a second pair the cam 107 will be revolved to withdraw the cam 100 out of engagement with the roch-arm 13, which will again assume the position shown, in Fig. 2], and the described operation be repeated.

\ It is obvious that only that section of the cam 100, or the low part thereof, which constitutes the outer portion ofthe said fourth part ot' its camgroove need be reciprocated in and out of position for engagement with the roclcarm 13, and the cam 100 is to be considered herein as constructed in that manner, or as heretofore described.

To fold each sheet sin gly, the pinion 109 may be removed and the cam 107 rotated until the cross-bar 105 and cam 100 take their innermost position, where they will constantly remain. This projection of a constantlyrotating folding-blade without the periphery of its revolving carrier at each second revolution thereof to co-operate with folding-rollers mounted in 1 i stationary bearings at a given point relative to such carrier maybe accomplished by means of a stationary blade-shaft-projecting cam, if the proportion ot' the gearing-which rotates the said folding-blade is such as to cause it to make three and one-half (3) revolutions to cach revolution of its carrier, which construction is shown in Figs. 23 25. The blade-projecting'cam therein designated 110, like the similar cam 5,9, is fixed stationary by being fastened to the frame, its operation in project ing the blade-shaft bein g the same as said cani 5i) and effected ateach revolution of the cylinder 30. But while'this blade-shaft is projected at the first revolution ot' the cylinder when it is carrying the first sheet ot' a pair, the revo lution of the blade will be so timed by the gearing that said blade will be pointed inward when, passing the point-occupied by the folding-rollers 3G 35, and will hence pass by them witllout affecting the sheet; `and as the bladeshaft is drawn inward by the action of' said cam' before the blade rotates far enough to touch the sheet, it follows that said first sheet will be carried around upon the cylinder to receive the second sheet upon it, and-that the said blade will rotate idly in its innermost position until two sheets have been collected, one on the other, upon the cylinder, and said blade-shaft is again projected at the foldingrollers. At this second projection of its shaft the blade will be making that part of its revolution in which the blade is pointed outward, and will consequently double the two sheets into the nip of the rollers 3G 35.

The folding mechanism shown in connection with the primary sheet-manipulating mechanism may, when acting to fold sheets which arc not to be accumulated, have such sheets fed directly between its carrier and the foldingrollers 36 35, in which case the carrier need not be constructed as a cylinder, 30, but may be a framework capable ot'vsupporti'ng the shafts 32 33.

The folded sheets converging from the rollers 36- 35 may be delivered in their once-folded condition, or they may becarried to a secondary folding-machine and be again folded one or more times on lines parallel with their iii-st fold ait right angles thereto, or both, by folding mechanism such as is shown in any of the following patents may be used, viz., 171,106, 180,880, 188,987, 191,494, 191,819, 192,034, 195,115, and 197,604.

Herein are shown twoforms of a secondary sheet-manipulatin g mechanism, one of which is a folding-machine constructed in like manner as is that of the secomlary sheet-manipulatin g apparatus contained in my application filedY June l1, 1878. It consists oi' a cylinder, 20, provided with gripers 17, the rock-arm 46 of lwhich is operzited by a cam, 45, and a rotating folding-blade, 6, mounted fast upon a shaft, 19, which turns in lits carryingarms 67 8l, which are secured to a rocking shaft, 82, that is hungin the heads of cylinder 20. -These arms G7 Sl and the shaft 10 they carry are rocked by means of a rock-arm, 60, running in a grooved stationary cam, 47, the said shaft 10 being revolved by means of a pinion, 7S, fixed upon its end, that gears with an intermediate, '79,whieh, turning freely on the shaft S2, remains constantly geared with a stationary' driving toothed wheel, S3, that is fastened to the fra1nc-\vork,in this instance being attached to the cam 47. This blade 0 cooperates with stationary folding-rollers 23 29, which are geared together by wheels (S0 (il, and rotated by means of a toothed wheel, 02, lined to one end of the cylinder 20. As the intermediate wheel 79 and arms 07 3l, supporting the bladeshaft 10, to which the pinion 83 is rixed, are hung upon the same shaft 82, it "allows that said pinion will remain in gear with and be constantly driven by the said intermediate, whatever may be the degree to which the blade-shaft is projected by the cam 47. Thus, as at each revolution ot' the cylinder 20 the folding-blade will be rotated a number of times, according to the proportion its pinion 78 has to its driver S3, and by means of the arm 09 and the cam 47 will, during one of these rotations, have its carrying-shaft moved outward and inward, so that the blade will enter between the folding-rollers 28 29, and be Withdrawn therefrom in performing the operation of folding.

The cylinder 20 is made one-half the size of the cylinder 30, for the reason that tht` sheets manipulated by it, having been once folded, are reduced to one-half their original length. It is driven from the toothed wheel 53 on the shaft 31 of the cylinder 36 by means of the wheels 52 51, and, though making equal turns with said cylinder 30, it runs with but one halfits surface-speed. The sheets from the folding-rollers 36 35 are directed to its gripcrs by means of endless tapes 43, which run from the folding-roller 35 to a roller, 44, above which tapre conductors 77, which keep the sheets from dying upward, while a set of guards span the space between the rolier 44 and the cylinder 20.

The once-folded sheets emerging from the rollers 36 35 may be conveyed to a secondary mechanism constructed as is shown in Fig. 27. They are directed by a conducting mechanism formed by tho tapes 43 and conductors 77 to tile nipof a pair of forwarding-rollers, 111 112 ich are geared together to run in unison, and diven at or about one-halg the surface-speed of the carrier 30 by means of a toothed wheel, 125, that is actuated by the toothed wheel 53 on the shaft 3 through a train of wheels, 126 127, the said oothed wheel 125 being twice the diameter of the roller 111. As the wheels 63 axill 125 run tooth for tooth, and conscquentiy at the same surface-speed, it follows that thelroller 111, of one-half the size of said wheel 125, will run at one-half its surfacespeed as well as that of the carrier 30.`

The forwarding-rollers 111 112 dischargethe folded sheets to two subsidiary folding-ma chinos of the well-known vibrating type, wherein a folding-blade as 119 or 120, is vibrated at suitable intervas, to double sheets beneath it into the nip of pairs of foldirg-rollers, as 121 or 122, which, revolved in unison, carry the sheets between them and deliver them in a now twice-folded condition.

In this arrangement sheet-conveying tapes :117 118 lead from the rollers 112 114 to the lower subsidiary ibldiug-maehine, and similar tapes 123 124 lead from the rollers 111 113,10 the upper subsidiary folding-machine. Shetdirecting switches 115 are also provided, which switches 115 are so v ibrated by a cani-groove, 116, with which the toothed wheel 55 is provided in itsputside face for the purpose, that their points are alternately moved `from the grooves in the rollers 111 into those inthe roller 112, and vice versa, thus standing in the grooves of roller 111, as shown, while one sli ect,

is passing through the rollers 111 112 and 112 1,14, which sheet will thus be directed into the tapes 117 118, the former, aided by the guards 128, carrying it ont against a gage, 129, where it lies over ,ille foldingrollers 122 and under the foldingeblndr 120. This blade descends at the proper time and doubles the sheet into the nip of said folding-rollers, from which it emerges folded a second time at right angles to its first fold. As soon as this first sheet passes their points, the switches will be vibrated into the groove of the roller 112, so as to direct the second sheet into the tapes 123 124, which lead to the upper subsidiary folding-machine, between the rollers 121 of which the blade 119 will double said sheet, which will thus be folded in like manner as was the first.

The construction of these vibrating folding devices, though well understood by those skilled in this art, is described in said Patent No. 191,819.

0f course any one of the modified forms of the blade-projecting cams hereinbefore de' scribed will operate to project at the proper time a folding-blade constructed, mounted, and rotated by a stationary driving-wl1eel, as shown in Figs. 1 to 1l, and the scope of the invention is to be understood as contemplat ing the use of any one of the said cams with this mode of rotating the foldingblade.

Though the construction ofthe foldingbladc projecting cams and the .arrangements of mechanism for actuating them shown in Figs. 16 to 22 are within the broad scope of the present invention, the right is reserved ot' claiming them specifically in au independent patent.

The combination of a single folding-blade supported in a revolving carrier with |ncchanisms for projecting it between one and the same pair of folding-rollers at each second revelution of said carrier is not broadly claimed herein.

What is claimed herein is- LThe combination of a revolving carrier,

supporting a rotating folding-blade, its shaft,`

and pinion from arms on a rock-shaft, with a cam for intermittingly actuating said rockshaft, and thereby projecting the tblding-bladc from said carrier, and with a stationary internal wheel, as 68, and intermediate wheels, as 9 8, gearing it with said pinion, whereby said blade is projected while rotating, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a folding-blade, supported upon a shaft in a revolving carrier, and rotated by means of a pinion on its shaft, a stationary internal wheel, and two intermediate connecting-wheels, whereby said blade is caused to rotate in the properdirection, and may be projected from and withdrwn toward the center of said carrier in co-operating with stationary folding-rollers, substantially as de scribed.

3. The combination, with a revolving carrier, of a folding-blade, as 5, its shaft 32, pinion 10, arms l1 12, shaft 33, arm 13, cam 59, intermediate wheels 9 8, and stationary intemal dri vin g-wheel 68, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a revolving carrier provided with means for collecting two or more sheets upon its surface, and which snpports a single rotating folding-blade, of mechanism for imparting the rotative movements to said blade, and mechanism for causing said blade to be projected into (so-operative relation to stationary folding-rollers at each second or other `repeated revolution of said carrier, all substantially as described. v5. The combination, with a revolving carrier provided with means for collecting two or more sheets upon its surface, and which supports a rotating folding-blade, of mechan-y ism for imparting the rotative movements to said folding-blade and a cam for projecting" and withdrawing the folding-blade 'shaft whereby said blade is caused to move'from and toward the center 'of said carrier and'cooper ate with stationary lfolding-rollers at eachsccoud or repeated revolution of the carrier, all substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a revolving carrier provided with means for collecting two or more sheets upon its surface, and which supports a rotating foldingblade, of mechanism for imparting the rotative movements to said folding-blade, and a cam for projecting the shaft of said folding-blade from and withdrawing it toward `the center of said carrier, and

' means for automatically moving said cam vinto proper positions with respect to the foldingrollers at each second or other repeated revo- 'lution of the carrier, whereby said blade is caused to enter and Withdraw from the folding-rollers at such times as the folding operationisto be eeeted, all 'substantially asde scribed.

- 7 The combination, with a revolving c'a'rmore sheets upon its surface, a folding-blade supported thereby, and mechanism for rotatingV said blade, of the revolving blade-shaftprojecting cam 59,'all substantially as described.

8; The combination, with a revolving carrier' provided with means for collecting two sheets upon.- its surface, gripers to control the same, a folding-blade carried thereby and projected therefrom into co'operative relation with thefolding-rcllers at every second revolution of said carrier, of main and auxiliary griper-cams, as 70 and 3, all substantially as described. b

9. The combiration of the carriers 30 and 20, each provided with mechanisms for folding sheets, the said carrier 20 being of one-half the size of the carrier 30, and driven turn for turn therewith, said carrier being connected by a sheet-conducting mechanism, and adapted to impart parallel folds to the same sheet or pack of sheets, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN D. TUCKER.

Witnesses Q Hea YVL Cameraman, FRANKLIN T. Gnoss. 

